Cross-posted at Squarestate.net.

Good morning, and was it knee high by the 4th of July?  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

According the Nation Weather Service, here in Denver "June 2008 was a mundane month with no noteworthy weather statistics to mention."  Yeah, that just about sums it up.

Although we had 10 days over 90° — 4 more days than "normal" (whatever that is), it didn't seem really hot: most of those days were in the low 90s, and we didn't top 100°.

It was on the dry side — although we had daily predictions of thunderstorms, none of them fell on Casa de Frankenoid.  I've had to water regularly (but at least we have no watering restrictions this year).

And the first few days of July have been more of the same.  But the corn is growing, and it's more than knee high (at least on me — but I'm short).

[As I prepare for our annual trip to the Mister's folks down in Pueblo for the Fourth (actually waiting for the rest of the family to wake up!), I'm reprising a diary from July 4, 2006.]

In the United States, the term "patriotic music" generally is used to mean the marches of John Phillip Sousa; the National Anthem; God Bless America, I'm Proud To Be An American; and the like.

But I'm of a different bent — I find the above evoke images of martialism and mindless nationalism which are the antithesis to ideals of the United States — our true patrimony.

After the flip is my favorite song about the United States.  What's yours?

Good morning, and my, how time flies!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Our "normal" June weather has continued this week — a little warm on a few days as we inched into the 90s, but all in all, pretty damned nice.  And, well, at least it hasn't been over 100°!

Well, except for those afternoon thunderstorms.  None of them have hit my house, so I've had to water (ooops... need to run out and start the soaker hose running on one area or another of the flower beds).

What's even better, though, is that just in time for the weekened we're getting a little bit of a cool off — today will be in the low 80s, perfect for going out and doing a few chores, then sitting on the front porch and reading.

On yesterday's front page, Markos made the formal announcement about The Big Tent: space and a hang-out for the bloggerati during the Democratic National Convention here in Denver.  How would you like another opportunity to hang out?

As regulars of Saturday Morning Garden Blogging know, the Garden Blogging Garden is in Denver.

Not merely in Denver, but a mere 2.5 miles from Downtown, in the beautiful Baker Historic District, one of the oldest remaining residential neighborhoods in the City.

Indeed, because of our front porch, my house is (or, at least, was) listed as a "notable home" in the Historic Denver guide to the Baker Neighborhood.

If you're coming to Denver for the convention, I'd like to host an open house on the afternoon, and into the evening hours, of August 24.

The question is: if I plan it, will you come?

Revised and updated from original posting at SquareState: Are We Confused Yet?

For a couple of weeks now, I've been railing about the lack of a "donation" link on the Democratic National Convention website, especially given the much-publicized fund raising shortage by the convention "host committee".  I mean, our presumptive candidate is a master at web-based fund raising.  The Chairman of the DNC, the Good Doctor Dean, started the trend during his own primary run back in 2004.

I sent an e-mail to the "information" link on the web site asking: why?

And I received an "out of office" auto-reply.  Actually, it wasn't an "out of office" reply: that's just what the re: line read.  It actually was a "we're far too busy to reply to e-mails" auto reply.

Again — WTF?

Good morning, and something smells good!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Here on the Colorado Front Range, we've finally gotten into "normal" weather for this time of year; it's about fucking time, as the first full day of Summer is upon us!

The forecasts are remarkably similar, day after day: highs in the mid 80s to low 90s, lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s, and a "chance of an afternoon or evening thunderstorm".

The trick to figuring out weather forecasts here is to understand that a "30% chance of rain" means that there's a 100% chance that it's going to rain somewhere, and a 30% chance that it's going to rain on you.  A higher percentage just means that it's a more widely-spread thunderstorm, increasing the likelihood that your neck of the woods will see moisture from the sky.  So far — we haven't gotten any.  Gotta run out and water the grass patch this morning.

And as to what smells good, it's not what's cooking in the kitchen; instead, it's one of the 5 dimensions of gardening.

Well, actually, Denver isn't in the Rockies.

Denver sits in a bowl, about 20 miles east of the foothills.

But it isn't called the Mile High City for nothing: it is, indeed, 5,280 feet above sea level.

And if you are coming to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, you need to plan ahead because if you live near sea level, coming up to our rarified air will be a shock to your system.

So here are some tips for surviving our Almost Foothills High.

Cross-posted at SquareState.net

Good morning, and may the madness end!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

While the east coast has sweltered under a heat wave, and the midwest is flooding, here on the Colorado front range we've been cooler than normal — and with wildly fluctuating temperatures.  For example: last Sunday, the high was 73°; on Monday it was 78°.  Tuesday the cool front broke and we got up to 93° — but Wednesday brought the lowest high of the week, at a mere 71°.  Our lows have been hovering in the 40s — not warm enough for tomato blossoms to set.  Hell, my tomato plants are hardly growing; they've been in the ground for a month and are barely knee high.  Ditto with the cucubits and beans.

And the corn — oy!  Barely out of the ground, with a very poor germination rate.  And, of course, this is the year where I don't have a packet of corn seed in reserve, so what I get is... what I get.

WTF?

It's time for Denverites to celebrate the end of the primary season -- and the beginning of summer! -- with a meeting of the Colorado Chocolate Fountain Caucus. No need to dress up; you can leave your your hair hat at home (besides, the hair would likely get stuck in the melted chocolate... mmmmm... chocolate).

(hair hat picture courtesy of Jezebel)

Cross-posted at SquareState

Good morning, and the mystery is solved!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Denver has had more see-saw weather.  Early on in the week was pretty typical for June: highs in the 80s, lows in the 50s.  On Wednesday afternoon a cool front moved in, bringing thunderstorms and, for Thursday, highs in the 50s and a day of drizzle.  The next few days will bring highs in the 70s and 80s — both a blessing and a curse: the cooler temperatures are great for the snap peas, which have just started producing; but the just-emerging corn could really use a blast of heat to get it going.

To the east of the front porch, a surprise plant has taken root: somehow a prickly poppy seed found its way to my house and sprouted.  It's a pretty common Western wildflower but not generally found in urban Denver.  Indeed, the Mister — a Colorado native from Pueblo — didn't know what it was.

In The Great Gatsby's rec list diary s/he writes

Hell, you could argue that Hillary's been building up to this day since the mid-90's.  That's an awful long time to hold a dream, and it's understandable that she needs a little bit of time to get used to it.

I hope the Obama supporters on here take a moment and imagine themselves in Clinton's shoes, or the shoes of her supporters.  How hurt would you feel to have worked so hard and come up short?  How easy would it be to feel cheated,...

You know, this kind of pisses me off.

No, let's make that, this really pisses me off.

My ire isn't directed at Gatsby; instead, it's directed at those who are refusing to accept Senator Clinton's defeat, and dragging us all along as they wallow in their disappointment.

Arwen the Terrible is most upset -- and telling us all about it.

Her problem?  Arwen is a Clintonista; her sworn pootie enemy Zasu Pitts Pootie is an Obamamaniac.  And that nassssty little usurper pootie's candidate is taking the nomination!

Even worse, there's going to be another party.  At her house!  And she hateses parties, with all sorts of strange peeples coming to her house.  Aaaand she just knows all those peeples will be talking about that Obamamama guy and how wuuunderful he is, rubbing salt into a poor, pitiful pootie's wounds.

Good morning, and may it not be fried!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Well, Memorial Day, the "start of summer", was far from summer-like this year.  Although I did struggle through with grilling the traditional first batch of ribs of the year, it was so chilly I had to wear socks fer christsake!  The official high was only 58° and Tuesday was more of the same.  Damn.  I had taken the week off work, and it was too cold and damp to work outside.

On Wednesday, however, prospects were much, much better, with sunny skies and a high of 80°.  I desperately needed to mow the lawn but needed to let it dry out a bit.  While I was waiting, I spotted this little fellow — a nessus sphinx hawkmoth (identification provided by The Bugman) buzzing around a white jupiter's beard in the front yard.

And then I tried to kill the puppy.

Good morning, and things are really cooking now!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Exciting weather events here on the Colorado Front Range.  Early in the week we were unseasonably, and unreasonably, warm.  On Wednesday, although our official high (taken at DIA) was 89°, in Denver proper we topped 90°.

A sudden change came with a cold front — which brought hail, thunderstorms and tornados north of Denver.

As the air temperatures even out, the threat of extreme weather is lifting.  The weekend calls for temperatures in the 70s, with possible thundershowers in the afternoon.  But, I think, no more tornado watches.

The heat early on in the week really got my compost bin cooking, though.  On Monday it registered 165°, the hottest I've ever gotten a compost pile to cook.

And the tree peony bloomed.  I've been afraid we'd get hit with hail before the bud opened, but I lucked out.  Gawd, it's such a fantastic flower!

Cross-posted at Square State

Hidey Ho, there, neighborinos!  June will soon be busting out all over, and it’s time to get ready for the next Garden Party at the Garden Blogging Garden And Meeting Of The Colorado Chocolate Fountain Caucus.

Our litte soirees are a lot of fun, with lots of good food, good companionship, Republican-bashing, and the opportunity to put faces to handles.

Plus you’ll have the opportunity to browse in the Garden Blogging Garden and see if there is a plant or two you’d like to take home — I have sedums, cranesbill and asters that can always use dividing, a volunteer California poppy that is just the wrong goddamned color, and who knows what else that could find a home elsewhere.

Cross-posted at SquareState, designated Colorado State Blog at the Democratic National Convention.

Good morning, and how about a drink?  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Well, it's been another week of cold, damp weather here in Denver.  Last Sunday was pretty good, but then the next storm front moved in.  Tuesday brought a mix of rain and snow for most of the day, and the clouds and drips stayed with us for most of the week.

But on Wednesday we had a brief respite with a few hours of weak sunshine.  A couple of Painted Lady butterflies decided to take a few nips of nectar at the Lilac Bar.

It's been an awfully slow warm-up this spring, but the forecast for the coming week shows that we may have turned the corner into warmer days.  The prediction is for some highs in the mid-80s and lows staying in the upper 40s and 50s.  Oh, yeah — with all the moisture we've had, the nice fat buds I see on the blooming plants should be busting out all over, not even waiting for June.

I saw a woman pushing a twin stroller the other day and my heart tightened in my chest.

I hate seeing twin strollers.  I especially hate seeing twin strollers this time of year, as Mother's Day advertising and well-wishing reaches its yearly zenith.

I dwell in the land of the bereaved.  The processing of my citizenship began on Mother's Day, May 12, 1996.  For a time, I thought my admission would be refused -- all would be right, relief and joy seeming to battle and overcome the fear of loss.

But it was not to be: by Friday, my passport was written, my mind was numb, and my arms and heart were half-empty.

It's been noted there is a funny thing about our language: while we have words for a person whose spouse has died, and a child who has lost its parents, we have no word for the parents of a deceased child.

Thus we enter the shadowy Land of the Bereaved: pitied but unnamed, for to name a thing is to make it's possibility more real; our citizenship is a pain unbearable to contemplate.

Good morning, and here comes McCain — oops, the rain — again!  Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

We've had a wickedly wet, windy week here in Denver — well, not really, but I like the alliteration.

We did get a blast of much-needed rain on Wednesday, the day starting with the hard downpour of a thunderstorm, followed by on-and-off drizzles for the remainder of the day.  And the wind has been blowing pretty consistently since it brought the clouds in Tuesday afternoon.

The clouds and wind have stuck around since then, and more cool and wet is predicted for today.  I'd be pissed about it — after all, this is Denver, it is Saturday, and we expect lots of sunny days chasing the clouds away — but we desperately need the moisture.

And Arwen the Terrible looks so pretty and proper posing amidst the posies (damn, just can't get rid of that alliteration!)